Electric lamp support



R. H. CUNNINGHAM ELECTRIC LAMP SUPPORT Nov. 23, l937.

Filed Ju1y` 24, 193e INVENTOR ROY H. CUNNINGHAM BY HIS ATTORNEYS f particularly designed for use on tables and desks, wire terminal plates I8, 29 and terminal screws Patented Nov. 23, 1937 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LAMP SUPPORT f Roy H. Cunningham, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to The Bryant Electric Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application July 24, 1936, Serial No. 92,430

3 Claims. (Cl. 24U-81) This invention relates to supports for electric substantially cylindrical but may be slightly light bulbs. More particularly it relates to such tapered to facilitate its removal from the mold. supports which are made of molded insulating The lamp socket is mainly of conventional material and are of the small type which are construction, having an insulating base I6 with 1 though it is not limited to such use. In devices 22, 24 therein on opposite sides of the base I 6 of this type, as heretofore made, diculty has lying in channels in the base. These plates been encountered in connecting the electric lamp are connectible through switch mechanism Socket to the support or in mounting the lamp (whose details need not be particularly described) '10 socket upon the support. In some cases screw within the socket base I6, to conventional screw 10 Connections were used which often resulted in shell and center contacts 26 and 28 respectively. twisting of the cord and damaging the insula- The switch serves to control the flow of current tion of the electric conductor. Other disadvanthrough the socket and is controlled by a pair tages attended the mounting of the electric lamp of buttons 39, 32 extending diametrically out ,.15

socket upon the support in other manners. of the socket base in opposite directions. Push- It is an object of my invention to provide a ing one button in pushes the other out and actusupport or mounting for an electric lamp socket ates the switch in conventional fashion. Longiand lamp which may be quickly and inexpentudinal slots 34, 36 are formed in the wall of sively Vmanufactured and assembled and which the top or socket portion I4 of the standard for is made of a minimum number of parts. Anthe accommodation of the push buttons 30, 32. 20 other object of my invention is to provide a An insulating washer 29 is employed between support for an electric lamp socket and lamp the base I6 and shell 26, and serves to position in which the socket is supported in such fashion the center contact 28 and to shield the switch as to preclude the possibility of turning it with mechanism from the screw shell 26. relation to the support and thereby preventing In order that the socket may be inserted from damage to the electrical conductor. Another obthe bottom of the standard into its proper posiject is to provide a simpler method and means tion in the top of the standard, there are profor mounting an electric lamp socket in a supvided ilutes 38, 4D running longitudinally up the port in a rmer manner than heretofore. Other standard from the base IIJ to the top part I4.

30 objects and advantages will become apparent as The flutes may terminate adjacent the slots 34 30 it is described in connection with the accompanyand 36. During insertion of the socket into its ing drawing. proper position the push buttons 30, 32 will slide 111th@ dIaWIlgup the flutes 38, 4B and nally into the slots 35 Figure 1 is a plan view of an electric lamp 34, 35. The utes 38 and 40 may form part of 35 socket and support embodying the principles of the design of the standard and may correspond my invention. to similar iiutes 46, 4B for the same purpose.

Figure 2 is a side elevation View of the inven- If the flutes are not used the whole column tion as shown in Figure 1. l2 must then be made large enough to permit Figure 3 is a vertical section view through the the socket to move up through it into the top 40 invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the part I4. The column can be of any desired shape. section being taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1. If it is made square in cross section and the Figure 4 is a transverse section View thru the push buttons are situated diagonally then the invention with the section being taken along minimum dimensions may be less than if the 1in@ 4 4 Of Figure 3- push buttons are not diagonally placed. Other 45 Referring to the drawing, it will be noted that forms and shapes will occur to those skilled in the invention comprises two units: the lamp the art and may be employed without departing socket and switch, and the supporting base or from the invention. Likewise, other forms of standard. operating means than the push buttons may be The base or standard is preferably made of employed. 50 molded insulating material with a square pris- To hold the socket in position in the standard,

matic bottom IIJ from which rises a hollow cement 31 is applied to the exterior of the Screw column I2 which tapers from the bottom upshell and to the interior of the portion I4 of the Wardly 110 the SOCke 11011161 01' 170D Dart I4 Of standard. The engagement of the push buttons Y the column. 'Ihis top part or socket holder is with the slots will prevent rotation of the socket 55 in its holder, but to relieve the strain of attempted rotation from the switch parts, radial extensions or ribs 42, fifi may be formed on the lower lpart of the socket base to engage in complimentary recesses in the interior walls at the lowermost edge oi the lamp socket holding section M of the standard.

Although I have found the use of cement to be a quick and eiective means to secure the socket in place, other means may be employed.

An advantage of my invention is the ease with which the socket may be mounted in the standard after the feed wires 5l) have been connected to the wire terminals I8 and 26. Twisting of the feed Wires is eliminated since the socket is mounted in the standard by a simple straight line motion of pushing the socket up through the standard into part I4.

Another advantage is the elimination of the necessity for use of the usual brass cap and shell and their linings for the socket. All these advantages contribute to make an inexpensive but very sturdy and reliable construction.

Various modifications within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore I do not limit myself to the specific embodiment shown.

I claim:-

l. In combination, an electric lamp socket having an insulating base, lamp receptacle contacts and switch mechanism mounted on said base, a rigid switch operating member projecting from said base, in combination with a thin walled standard of molded insulating material, said standard comprising a hollow column having a substantially cylindrical top portion closely tting said socket base and being slotted to permit extension of said operating member therethrough, said column being of insuicient diameter to permit passage of the assembled socket but being provided with a fluted passageway for said operating member whereby said socket may be inserted into said top portion through the bottom of the standard.

2. In combination, an electric lamp socket having an insulating base, lamp receptacle contacts and switch mechanism mounted on said base, a rigid switch operating member projecting from said base, in combination with a thin walled standard of molded insulating material, said standard comprising a hollow column naving a substantially cylindrical top portion closely fitting said socket base and being Slotted to permit extension of said operating member therethrough, said column being of insufcient diameter to permit passage of the assembled socket but being provided with a uted passageway for said operating member whereby said socket may be inserted into said top portion through the bottom of the standard, and means on said socket base engaging with said standard to prevent transmission of rotational stress to said operating member.

3. In combination, an electric lamp socket having an insulating base, lamp receptacle contacts and switch mechanism mounted on said base, a rigid switch operating member projecting from said base, in combination with a thin walled standard of molded insulating material,l said standard comprising a hollow column having a substantially cylindrical top portion closely tting said socket base and being slotted to permit extension of said operating member therethrough, said column being enlarged to permit the insertion of said socket base into said top portion through the column, said column having an opening adjacent said top portion and communicating with 'the slotted area of said top portion whereby said operating member may move out of said column as said socket base moves into said top portion.

ROY H. CUNNINGHAM. 

